Empower Yourself to Grow

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Empower Yourself to Grow
Rad Report
4th Year
Anniversary
Use your 2010
Rad Report
knowledge to win a
prize by completing
the Crossword
Puzzle on Pages 4-5.
- First 25 entries
will win a prize
- All answers must
be correct
- Entries must be
received by
Feb. 18
- Include your
contact
information on
your entry
- Answers will
be posted on the
website on Feb. 21
www.radiology.emory.edu
Submit your completed
crossword to
EUH-CG20 or
Fax to
404-712-4730
value.
Endeavors
of the
Radiology
DepartThe School of Medicine (SOM) ment
has two offices devoted to the relating
development of our faculty
to both
and staff. The SOM Office of
faculty and
Faculty Development is lead
staff include The Emory Center
for Lifelong Learning
by Dr. Sharon Weiss and offers customer
is located on the
several programs and lecture
service
Briarcliff campus and
series. This office is dedicated
training
open to both Emory
to providing resources to our
offered by
faculty to progress in their
the Service Healthcare and Emory
careers and improve their
Excellence University employees.
network. In 2008, the SOM
Committee (SEC) and the
brought on Dr. Rochelle Lehner Radiology Leadership Academy
to focus on staff development
Reenergize by learning
(RLA). The customer service
and created the Office of
something new. Better yet,
training features playful videos
Staff Development. Dr. Lehner
have a goal and then seek the
to highlight the “dos and don’ts”
considers her office a central
new skills that can help you
of patient interactions. The RLA
meet that goal. If your interests resource for all staff in the SOM is in its second year, catalyzing
and welcomes any inquiries to the development of leadership,
extend beyond the offerings
programs or courses that may
at Emory, get involved in an
communication and group
be of interest.
organization that will spark
dynamic skills. This program was
your interest. Emory also
designed to provide and enhance
Within Radiology, our chair,
offers programs for tuition
the leadership skills of those
Dr. Carolyn Meltzer has
reimbursement if you seek
who excel in their position. The
been an example for our
a formal setting for growth.
participants of this program are
Department by investing
(For details contact your HR
selected on a nomination basis.
her own time and providing
Representative.)
If you are interested building or
support for the development
polishing your leadership skills,
of several radiology growth
At the organization level,
please express you interest
endeavors. Our faculty have
Emory Healthcare and
to your Division Director,
benefited through skills building Lab Director or the Assistant
University have both invested
in centers to focus on offering at retreats on the leadership
Director in your area.
courses in soft skills, computer and Jr. Faculty levels. These
retreats are designed to inspire With all of the programs
skills and policy training.
involvement in the greater
Healthcare faculty and staff
available across Emory, you
radiology community and
can access these resources
have the power to be inspired
through Healthstream Learning provide individuals with the
professionally and personally.
tools to advance in an academic Take advantage of the academic
Center (HLC). University
institution. With the help of
faculty, Staff and Trainees
culture and empower yourself
Dr. James Provenzale,
can enroll in courses and
to grow.
Dr. Meltzer has launched the
certificate programs through
Jr. Faculty Mentorship Program.
Emory University Learning
Turn to page 6 for a list of
This year, with members of
Services, which will help
Emory’s educational offices - the Faculty Development
to develop the skills and
and programs.
Committee, they have launched knowledge base at all levels
a series of workshops to
of professional goals. Both of
- Monica Salama
these offices work to provide further enhance the program’s Communications Manager
We are very fortunate to work
at an academic institution with
leaders who are supportive
of continual professional
growth. Signs of this support
can be seen at all levels within
Emory University, both the
Healthcare and academic arms
of the organization. Resources
have been put into place to
ensure that the faculty and
staff have the tools available
to perpetually grow. Each
individual within the Emory
organization has the power to
enrich their skill set, if they so
choose to take the initiative.
courses and workshops that
will help to refine and enhance
the interpersonal skills, as well
as practical and technical skills.
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LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
Dear Colleagues,
The Ice Monster. I have lived
in several Northeast cities
including a multiple-year stint
in the snowbelt of Upstate
New York.Yet I wasn’t quite
prepared for Atlanta’s worst.
It was a challenging several
days for those who went
through extraordinary efforts
to get to the hospitals and
stay there or nearby, ensuring
care for all inpatients and
those outpatients who braved
the elements. Walt Carpenter
and Dan Lee slept in-house
at their posts, several of us
who live close by trekked in
on foot including Terry Howell
who creatively took advantage
of the traction of golf shoes (I
knew I should have saved my
old metal spikes), and those
with four-wheel drive vehicles
picked up those stranded.
The chief residents rallied the
troops to make sure those
residents who could get in
helped out wherever there
was a need.
As the cold days and colder
nights progressed, further
packing of snow and ice
brought little relief and some
of our staff hadn’t seen their
homes and families in several
days. Each morning at “rush
hour” I stood in the middle
of Clifton Rd looking in each
direction to see only an
occasional sign of a motorized
vehicle. It was a peculiar sight
indeed. Supplies started to
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
run a bit thin but we managed.
Thankfully, power outages
did not occur. One faculty
and two resident candidates
made it to Atlanta just
before the storm and were
stranded here. They took
their adventure in stride and
enjoyed more informal visits
than originally planned.
We are still playing catch-up
from the week of the Ice
Monster, with tight outpatient
scheduling and screening
mammography clinics on
Saturdays to make up for lost
patient appointments. We and
our patients benefited from
the dedication of both faculty
and staff.
There were many
lessons learned from this
experience that will help us to
craft a more comprehensive
procedure to guide us in
potential future disasters,
whether they be weatherrelated or otherwise. If you
have not already done so,
please share your input and
ideas with your supervisor.
Best to all,
Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, FACR
Chair of Radiology
Arthur E Stillman MD, PhD
Trudie Denise Parker
Open Medical Institute in Salzburg
Austria Invited Lecturer
Vascular Interventional Radiology,
(VIT), Examination Completion
Professor of Radiology
Dr. Stillman was recently invited to lecture
at the Open Medical Institute in Salzburg
Austria. Their slogan is “medical education
without borders.” The purpose is to
provide postgraduate medical education to physicians
from developing countries who have limited access to
similar programs. Dr. Stillman feels that this opportunity
“was an interesting and rewarding experience!” More
details about the Open Medical Institute may be seen at
http://www.aaf-online.org/open-medical-institute.html.
CHECK IT OUT
Interventional Radiology Technologist - EUH
Ms. Parker has been a member of
the Emory staff since 2006, beginning
her career here as an interventional
technologist in the Radiology Department
and later transferring to the Operating Room staff.
Ms. Parker continues to divide her duties here in the
healthcare area working in the OR, IR, and CT sections
of EUH, and also working in IR at Emory Midtown. As
a registered technologist, Ms. Parker is accredited with
the ARRT, a member of the ASRT, member of the GSRT,
has accreditation by the American Heart Association for
ACLS, and continues to hold her license in Florida.
Asrani AV, Johnson JO, Novelline RA. Benefit of follow-up CT in emergency department patients with persistent nontraumatic abdominal pain. Emerg Radiol 2011; 18:5–9.
Provenzale JM. Proposal of a method for deciding whether an AJR manuscript merits publication: The 25% rule. Am J
Roentgenol 2010; 195:278-280.
Sharma P, Kalb B, Kitajima HD, Salman KN, Burrow B, Ray GL, Martin DR. Optimization of single
injection liver arterial phase gadolinium enhanced MRI using bolus track real-time imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging.
2011 Jan;33(1):110-8.
Reva Arnez Curry and Betty Bates Tempkin recently authored the third edition of Sonography: Introduction to
Normal Structure and Function. Marilyn Dickerson, Radiology Ultrasound Supervisor, was a contributor for two
of the chapters used in the published edition and Bobbie Hollis, Ultrasound Technologist, contributed a few of
her images to be used in the text book, as well.
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MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHAIR FOR RESEARCH
Research Energy
I feel an excitement in the air
surrounding research. Consider:
institutionally, there is a renewed
dedication to the academic mission.
Our provost has made strengthening
the faculty a priority. In the past several
years, Radiology has added numerous
faculty with an expressed interest in
Research. On behalf of the Siemens/
Emory Master Research Agreement, I
recently sent out a request for proposals
and received 34 completed applications!
In reading these, I see that there are
quite a few excellent ideas ready to take
off.
How should we proceed? How should
we capture this energy to benefit our
Department? Having a critical mass of
people excited by research projects will
propagate the excitement. Properly
harnessed, new research ideas lead to
new clinical approaches which lead to
new paradigms to teach our students.
One of my missions is to support the
efforts of investigators so that they have
several opportunities to request funding
for a project thus improving their overall
success rate. I am confident that if we
can mobilize the research interest in our
department and sustain it through the
inevitable funding challenges, then the
totality of the studies will have a positive
impact on all of our missions.
I encourage research groups and clinical
divisions to seek ways to leverage
their resources. It makes more
sense to acquire resources (human or
equipment) that benefit several areas
rather than have that resource idle for
a significant fraction of the time. Think
broadly knowing that we are always
open to considering new and innovative
solutions.
program and could help. Next, come
to my office. We see 3-5 grants a week
and know the trends in funding. We
also have access to several databases
for finding non-conventional sources,
such as private foundations, that might
be interested in your project. Finally,
the University has several (competitive)
mechanisms for funding pilot studies.
As Vivian Smith says in the “Striving for
Excellence” column in this RadReport,
ask for help when you need it – give
help when you can.
This is an exciting time for research.
The current national health care climate
is hungry for new energy and ideas. Join
the movement!
Research starts with collecting data but
data collection is expensive in time and
money. I can offer some advice. First,
seek out a mentor who has had success
starting a research program. If you need
help finding a mentor, James Provenzale
is in charge of the faculty mentoring
Sincerely,
- JohnVotaw, PhD,
Vice Chair for Research
Quality Corner
Teaming Up to Make a Difference
From a quality perspective, data integrity is one of the most important components
of imaging. But…what does it really mean? As I was searching for some definitions,
I found some good information that I would like to share.
Wikipedia states that data integrity is a term that can mean ensuring that data is
“whole” or complete….simply put it is the assurance that data is consistent, correct
and accessible. How we contribute to this as technologists is through adhering to
a strict standard of value and completeness...i.e., our standard workflow. The data
must be both accurate and relevant, and make it to PACS (both GE and Siemens)
in order to be accessible to our physicians for both interpretation and patient
management. The credibility of our data (patient images and information) solely rests on us….those acquiring
the information and storing it to PACS.
The diagram to the left (http://simplecomplexity.net/) is a picture representation
of what it takes to have and maintain data integrity:
These components were considered and developed into a standardized process
for workflow. Along with standard workflow, our protocols also ensure that
the information that we are obtaining on the patient is exactly the information
that is needed. Making sure that the use of the workflow checklist, end-of-shift
checklist, and completion of each exam both in RadNet, GE and Siemens PACS
(at the end of each exam rather than batching) is our way of not only making
data healthy but keeping its integrity.
Let’s remember to ask ourselves that for every patient that we do and follow standard workflow as one day it
may be our data that needs integrity.
- Starla Longfellow, RT(R), BBA, Assistant Director, Imaging Services
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ANNUAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE CHALLENGE
This issue marks the four-year anniversary of the Rad Report. Over the last year, many different types of stories have
been covered, throughout radiology. Test your Rad Report knowledge by completing the crossword puzzle featuring items
that have appeared over the last year. For clues, refer to page 5. More details and directions can also be found on the
adjacent page.
Rad Report
4th Year
Anniversary
Use your 20010 Rad
Report knowledge to win
a prize by completing
the Crossword Puzzle.
First 25 entries will
win a prize. The first 5
entries have an option of
prizes to choose from.
All answers submitted
must be correct before
prize can be awarded.
Entries must be received
by February 18, 2011
to qualify for a prize.
Be sure to include your
contact information on
your entry.
Submit your completed
crossword to
EUH-CG20 or
Fax to
404-712-4730
The answers will be
posted on the website on
Feb. 21 www.radiology.
emory.edu.
ACROSS
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This annual lecture was held on October 15, 2010, and featured a presentation by Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra Music Director.
This faculty member and Director of the MEDI 725 radiology course played a vital role in integrating this course into the
seven other clerkiships of specialty training taught to the medical students.
This faculty member was appointed as the President of the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) in May of 2010.
Dr. John Malko, is one of the two dozen Emory faculty members who travel to this location each summer to teach the
Tibetan Monks a semester’s worth of material in a one-week time span.
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ANNUAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE CHALLENGE
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_______ and Family Centered Care is a central goal of our quality initiative
that will evolutionize the culture of healthcare.
The Care Transformation Model, also known as the “egg”, strives to ingrate
the highest level of _____ and safety practices and fostering our culture in
our Department and throughout Emory Healthcare.
In early March 2010, this was the first professional location to launch the
new GE PACS system.
Modeled after the ABR’s __________ Research Pathway, our Research
Residency track will offer two incoming residents the opportunity to gain
valuable experience in both clinical and research operations.
Patient Service Advocates are also known as Radiology _________, who
work to minimize call time and maximize appointments for our patients.
Drs. Baron and Vydareny were awarded the Lifetime Service Award in
acknowledgement and appreciation of their ongoing exceptional service for
this professional organization (abbreviation).
This newly established Radiology division extends our services and aroundthe-clock coverage of subspecialty trained radiologists to Emory’s network
of hospitals.
This retired member of the Emory Radiology faculty passed away in
September 2010 and was an outstanding teacher, researcher and role model
for many radiology and non-radiology residents during his career.
Dr. _________ was the course director and primary organizer of the 4th
Annual Body MRI course hosted by the American College of Radiology.
With the September 2010, addition of a state-of-the-art Interventional
Radiology suite at this location, physicians can now treat many vascular
anomalies less invasively with image guided medicine techniques.
In April 2010, the Emory Center for Systems Imaging hosted an event to
launch the new MR/PET scanner that is one of _____ world-wide and one
of only two in the United States.
DOWN
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This Assistant Professor of Radiology recently took on a new role
overseeing the further growth and development of our department’s
community-based imaging services as the Director of Community Radiology
Specialists.
One of this year’s adopted residents, Dr.Nnenna Aguocha, proposed a plan
to take the global theme of assisting with medical advancements to this
poverty stricken country.
Our Department’s first “adopted” resident, Dr. Jay Patel, completed his
podcasting project he set out to accomplish that will use Emory’s _____ to
broadcast Radiology presentations.
This Assistant Professor of Radiology was appointed as the Director of
Interventional Services for EUHM.
In June, the inaugural year of the RLA, graduates refined these skills to
forward our Department’s strategic efforts.
Linda Zimmerman and Lee Ann Harvey are the Radiology Patient and Family
______ who joined our team to help transform the care we provide to our
patients.
Clinical Instructors are a group of Radiology ____ that volunteer their time
to the Emory Medical Imaging Program (MIP) to assist in furthering the
education of the MIP students.
The Atlanta Clinical & _________ Science Institute has helped ease the
process of bringing biomedical research to reality in healthcare and has
funded several of our department’s promising faculty members’ research.
Drs. Baumgarten and Hudgins were selected as ________ of the American
College of Radiology.
In recognition of his achievements and contributions to the field of
renal nuclear medicine, the International Society of Radionuclides in
Nephrourology awarded this faculty member with the coveted Lifetime
Achievement Award.
NEED FOR NEWS
Would you like to
contribute to the
Rad Report?
This February we are celebrating the
fourth year of publication for the Rad
Report. Our readership has grown
with new subscribers each month and
generates more than 400 hits on our
website the day it is released.
The primary goal of our newsletter is
to serve as a vehicle to communicate
across our divisions and create a
better understanding of how each
of us contributes to the department
as a whole. Through the continuous
content submissions, the commitment
of the editors, and the dedication
of the readers, this newsletter is a
success.
Thank you to all who, through
monthly content submissions, have
utilized this tool to disseminate
pertinent information and recognize
the accomplishments within our
department.
Thank you to the editing team for
reviewing the content each month
before going to print. Editors:
Dr. Carolyn Meltzer, Dr. William Torres,
Habib Tannir, Dr. John Votaw,
Dr. Mark Mullins, Dr. Kimberly
Applegate, Alaina Shapiro, Nancy
Costello, and photographs by Kevin
Makowski and Eric Jablonowski.
Thank you to the readers who make
the effort worth while. Without your
readership, the newsletter would fail
to serve its purpose.
If you have an idea for a story
or would like to acknowledge a
professional accomplishment, you
can become involved with the Rad
Report by sending an e-mail to
RadiologyComm@
emoryhealthcare.
org. When submitting
content for
consideration, please
copy your supervisor,
manager or director.
- Monica Salama
Communications Manager
6
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
Making Your Day More Productive
Time is your most valuable resource.
Alan Lakein, author on personal time
management stated,“Time is all you have.
Master your time and you master your
life.” We all have very busy schedules at
home and work.We are challenged with
handling multiple tasks, maximizing our
time, and being highly productive. The
question that seldom arises is, how can
we get more done with less time and
effort? Xerox, one of the world’s leading
enterprise for business process, offers
many excellent articles on productivity.
Below are five of the suggested principles
to make your work day more productive:
into manageable steps. Set-up a master
schedule and add the incremental steps
to your daily action list.
Delegate- Ask for help
Most of co-workers are eager to learn
new skills.When you ask for help,
focus on the objective, not the process.
Provide guidance as needed, but give
your co-workers the freedom to do
things their own way.
LeverageTechnology
New technology provides opportunities
to streamline your work.Whether it’s as
simple as a keyboard shortcut or a new
approach to an old process, little things
add up to incremental time savings.
Make a Daily Action List
Start the day with a list of the things you
want to accomplish.You can group the As Emory and the Department of
tasks by category, such as email, phone Radiology strives for great patient care
calls, meetings, and etc…
and strong concentration on research
and teaching, being successful requires
PrioritizeYourTasks
each of us to be efficient and highly
The action list should be organized by
productive. Continuous improvements
priority and created the day before.
in making action lists, delegating tasks,
This will allow you to arrive at work
and streamlining assignments are key
and know exactly what you need
principles to job satisfaction and increased
to focus on at the start of your day.
productivity.We all do certain tasks out
One of the side benefits of keeping a
priority list is that you will have a sense of habit. Take a few moments to ask
yourself, if your routine tasks are still
of accomplishment when
contributing to the success of your
completing a task and then
group or organization? Are there more
crossing them off your list.
efficient ways to get your job done?
Put Large Projects on a
Rethink your routine, and remember
Schedule
to stay organized, motivated, think
Large projects can be
positive and be highly productive.
daunting. Break them down
- Vivian Smith, Assoc. Clinical Administrator
Updates from Imaging Applications Support (IAS)
What’s coming up next in the Imaging arena?
GE PACS Workstations
Image upgrade is underway and the IAS will work off-hour shifts to
accomplish this without impeding on the clinical work.
GE Web Roll-out
A small pilot group went live the second week in January. A larger pilot
group went live at the end of January. The system optimization will be
based on these pilot groups’ feedback.
Teaching Files
The interim solution is to use RadNet Interesting Case Files as “teaching
files”. This is currently being evaluated to determine the amount of work
required for implementation. Research with GE is being established to
determine performance impact of using GE WEB for teaching files.
Critical Results Reporting
Quality issues and initiatives were reprioritized to begin implementation
of the Veriphy software system that automatically contacts referring
providers with our urgent and incidental imaging findings. We have hired
a Radiology contractor to manage the project. More soon…
Emory Educational
Offices & Programs
The programs and offices listed below are
available to work with groups at their request and
present opportunities to develop special programs.
Available to all
Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL)
Courses ranging from dance to leadership, and
languages to computer skills
http://cll.emory.edu/
Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP)
Get in touch with other cultures, religions and
diversity opportunities through courses, seminars
and events.
http://www.emory.edu/EEO/
Faculty Staff Assistance Program
(FSAP)
Programs and resources ranging from stress relief
and conflict to health promotion and work life
balance.
http://fsap.emory.edu/
Healthcare Employees
HealthStream Learning Center (HLC)
Courses in leadership development, job skills and
personal enrichment
http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/employee/
hlc/index.html
Emory University Employees
Emory University Learning Services
Training in soft skills at all levels, computer
training and Certificate Programs
http://www.hr.emory.edu/eu/
employeestoolkit/professionaldevelopment/
learningopportunities.html
Emory Worklife Resource Center
Promotes and strengthens the work-life culture
and integrates a wide range of practices,
programs and processes that sustain individuals
and families within the University environment
http://www.worklife.emory.edu/
SOM Office of Faculty Development
Faculty Development Lecture Series and videos,
leadership courses and teaching resources are a
few of the resources available.
http://www.med.emory.edu/dean/facultyaffairs.cfm
SOM Office of Staff Development
This office is in place to connect you to the
development resources you need. Please contact
Rochelle or Christine to explore your options,
including developing a program for your group.
Rochelle Lehner, PhD
[email protected]
Ph# 404-727-4529
Christie Kuropatwa
[email protected]
Ph# 404-727-3407
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GET INVOLVED
Breast Cancer Survivors –
Georgia Tech Wants to Honor You!
The Emory Breast Center and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory
University are partnering with Georgia Tech’s women’s basketball
team to raise awareness for breast cancer. The team’s home game
against NC State on Sunday, February 13 (5 p.m.) will be a “PINK”
game where the players will wear pink jerseys. Breast cancer
survivors will form the tunnel for the team to come on court just
before tip-off.
We are recruiting breast cancer survivors to form the
team’s tunnel! As an honoree, survivors will receive a free ticket
to the game and a pink Emory Breast Center t-shirt to wear on
game day. It is not necessary to have been treated at Winship at
Emory to participate.
Week of February 7, 2011
Wed., February 9 –
Grand Rounds Bonnie Joe, MD, PhD
Breast MRI: Artifacts and Pitfalls
To register, please call 404-778-7777 or visit www.emoryhealthcare.
org/pink for more information. Tickets must be reserved by
February 4 to ensure on-time delivery.
Week of February 14, 2011
Wed., February 16 –
Grand Rounds - Charles Mistretta, PhD
Sub-Nyquist Acquisition and Constrained
Reconstruction in Time Resolved Angiography
and Accelerated Medical Imaging Applications
Discounted Tickets: Emory Healthcare and Emory University
employees can purchase $2 tickets to the game! Order online today.
(http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/evenue/ev69/
se/DisplayPromoList.d2w/report?linkID=gatech&RSRC=&RDAT=&
caller=PR).
Deborah Baumgarten: 2nd Place for Visual Arts in
the Emory Arts Showcase 2011
“In an effort to promote a sense of community and to increase
the awareness of the arts on the Emory campus, the Emory Arts
Showcase annually offers the opportunity for faculty, staff and
students across the campus to showcase their talents in the areas of
music and visual arts. The Emory Arts Showcase, formerly called the
Emory Arts Competition, is an annual event presented as a creative
collaboration between the Emory College Center for Creativity &
Arts and Emory University Creativity: Art and Innovation. There are
three categories for entry to the Arts Showcase: Original Music,
Performed Music and Original Visual Arts. Individuals can only
participate in one entry under each category. The 2011 Emory Arts
Showcase Night was held Saturday, January 29, 2011, 8 p.m. in the
Emerson Concert Hall of the Donna & Marvin Schwartz Center for
Performing Arts.” (http://creativity.emory.edu/arts-showcase/about/
index.php)
Dr. Baumgarten won 2nd place in the
Visual Arts category. She describes
her piece (right) by telling the story
of when she was on her honeymoon
in Amsterdam this past fall. “I was
fascinated by the many bicycles lined up
and locked all around the city. In addition,
the buildings were often adorned with
colorful graffiti. I made a study of each
and this was a rare combination! I am a
photo tourist, a dabbler in the world of
photography. Dealing predominantly in
the shades of gray used to image human
anatomy and pathology in my day job
as an Abdominal Radiologist, I relish the
escape into the colors and forms around me.”
Thurs., February 10 –
Research In Progress Series (RIPS) -
Fanxing Zeng, PhD
Efforts towards the development of PET
imaging agents for the norepinephrine
transporter
Thurs., February 17 –
Research In Progress Series (RIPS) -
Charles Mistretta, PhD
Imaging Research at University of Wisconsin
Week of February 21 2011
Wed., February 23 –
Grand Rounds - Howard Rowley, MD
Emergency Stroke Imaging:The Time is Now
Thurs., February 24 –
Research In Progress Series (RIPS) -
Samuel Hong
Use of CT for lung fibrosis detection
Week of February 28, 2011
Mon., February 28 –
Cancer Imaging Lecture Series James H. Prestegard, PhD
Monitoring Glycosaminoglycan Synthesis with
NMR: Research Resources at UGA
Wed., March 2 –
Grand Rounds Deborah Baumgarten, MD
and Patricia Hudgins, MD
Thyroid Gland Imaging:
Update and Pitfalls
Thurs.,March 3 –
NO RIPS
8
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Physics and Computing Research Lab
Through this process of
The roots of the Physics and
mathematical quantization,
Computing Lab are based in
we aim to better
improving Nuclear Medicine
understand normal and
imaging and extracting physiologic
diseased physiology over a
information from medical images.
broad range of applications.
Over the years, we have had a
very strong collaboration with the
Current research projects
Radiopharmaceutical Discovery
include: calculating absolute
Lab – they are the source of many
myocardial blood flow to
of the test substances we use to
enable diagnosing triple
probe biological systems. More
recently, we have broadened our The Physics and Computing Research Lab works to vessel disease (Votaw),
efforts to extracting information develop methods to extract the maximum possible incorporating patient
motion information into
from all types of images collected information from molecular imaging studies.
image reconstruction
in the Radiology Department,
to eliminate blur
in sufficient detail so that we can
such as modeling the flow of Gd
(Raghunath),
estimating the dynamic
express
it
mathematically.
We
through the kidney to calculate
nature
of
endogenous
dopamine
then
recommend
a
protocol
Renal Blood Flow and Glomerular
following
drug
(cocaine)
challenge
for
collecting
image
data
such
Filtration Rate.
to better understand substance
that when the equations are
abuse (Nye), measuring changes in
applied, we can infer the values
Our research emphasis is on
the serotonin system to investigate
of physiologic parameters in
extracting information from
neuronal development (Votaw),
molecular imaging. The main tools absolute terms, such as the ml of
building tools for image guided
blood flowing into a cubic cm of
our group uses are: basic physics,
prostate biopsies and photo
tissue per second. Among other
applied mathematics, computer
dynamic therapy for prostate
programming, and collaborators to benefits, absolute quantification
(and other) cancer (Fei),
permits greater sensitivity in
contribute medical knowledge. A
estimating folate receptor
longitudinal
experiments
and
typical investigation starts with an
density to better evaluate the
expert describing some physiology normal/abnormal comparisons.
state of pituitary adenomas
(Galt), critically testing new
NEW FACES & APPOINTMENTS
nuclear medicine equipment
(Aarsvold), quality control of PET
images (J David), and establishing
protocols for collecting and
analyzing fMRI data (May).
The Physics and Computing Lab
also has a service mission. Clinical
Nuclear Medicine support is
provided by John Aarsvold at the
VA and James Galt at EUH. Jon
Nye and James Galt support the
PET efforts at the clinic, EUH and
EUHM. JohnVotaw and Jon Nye
oversee microPET imaging at
CSI andYerkes. In addition, James
Galt directs the Nuclear Medicine
Physics course.
We are always looking for
new projects to challenge and
stimulate our curiosity. Please
feel free to contact me or any
of us if you would like
to explore extracting
quantitative information
from your images.
- JohnVotaw, PhD,
Vice Chair for Research
Christopher Ho, MD
Xuenxian Sean Yan, MD
As Assistant Program Director, Dr. Ho will join the
education team led by Dr. Mark Mullins. Some of
his experience while in training at the University
of Virginia include tutoring undergraduate physics
courses, mentoring medical students and residents,
and developing an interactive web-based radiology
teaching tool. Dr. Ho joined Emory in July 2010.
Dr.Yan received his Bachelor and Master of Medicine
from Chongqing Medical University, China. He continued
his education with an Internal Medicine Residency
from North General Hospital in NY and then started
a Nuclear Medicine Residency from the University of
Tennessee Medical Center before he completed his
residency from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Asst. Program Director, Radiology Residency
Tracy Powell, MSN, RN, CS
Adult Nurse Practioner – EUH
Tracy has 12 total service years at Emory. She
received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from
the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tracy
relocated to Atlanta and continued her nursing
career as an RN in Emory Hospital’s 5EICU. In 1997,
she completed the Master of Science Program at
Emory’s Nell Hodsgon School of Nursing.
Look
for a new issue of
the Rad Report
the first full week of March
Senior Associate - Nuclear Medicine
New Year,
New Look!
Recently, the
Radiology front
desk and file
room personnel
received new
uniforms similar
to those used
in The Emory
Clinic. This new
look will provide a more established appearance for our
customers to associate with our Department at our
various locations throughout Emory University Hospital.